As spring has now sprung (although the current weather conditions show little sign of summer) it's the perfect time to get back out into the garden, if not your own then why not visit others?
Tips on the web
Find yourself lacking inspiration or simply just don't know where to begin? Asimov rates flower-gardening-made-easy.com he finds "the 'garden calendar season by season' especially useful, with simple explanations, good advice and lots of pictures and useful links". The Royal Horticultural Society website also has monthly advice and comprehensive problem solvers.flower-gardening-made-easy.com or visit Royal Horticultural Society website
Groovy Gardens
Our very own Groover has quite an eye for gardens, and paints a lovely picture through her reviews. The Beth Chatto Gardens in Colchester "a lovely place to spend an afternoon. They are both inspiring and also have a peacefulness about them that gets into your bones." East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens in Norwich "Sometimes I want to have a 'triple top dog' rating for exceptional places. These gardens are FANTASTIC."Beth Chatto Gardens or East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens
Seeds
Mr Fothergills Seeds Ltd "a company that sells flower and vegetable seeds, fruit and vegetables to grow and some plants either from their mail order catalogue or from their web site. They have one of the largest seed ranges available through a UK mail order catalogue and a very colourful easy to use web site" Jayne. Another favourite is Sarah Ravens Garden & Cookery School in Robertsbridge "The website is very colourful and bright and made me feel that I wanted to order seeds as summer isn't far away"Mr Fothergills Seeds Ltd or Sarah Ravens Garden & Cookery School
Tools
B&Q, although an obvious choice, do offer "a good selection of gardening tools and equipment all at very competitive prices" matilda, so click here to find your nearest reviewed store. Madeleine informs us that Lidl until the 9th March are "having a special Gardening Event when they will have lots of gardening tools for sale, including mowers, and some bedding plants." With stores all over the UK and online, Homebase are worth bearing in mind, they "sell a huge variety of things, such as lighting, wood, plants, wallpaper and gardening tools" ellie_crawshawSearch HelpHound for:- B&Q, Lidl or Homebase
Eco Gardening
"More and more of us are jumping on the Eco band wagon these days and surely that ol' wagon has no alternative but to get bigger and bigger to accommodate us all". Asimov loves Nigel's Eco Store Limited "and would buy 10, beautiful, terracotta bird balls if I could afford it (if they were a fiver each I'd have the happiest Finches around.)" Evengreener "is a web site specializing in environmentally friendly products. They currently stock around 200 items ranging from water butts, composters, wormeries and re-cycling bins through to energy saving light bulbs and bird feeders." Jayne.Nigel's Eco Store Limited or Evengreener
Wildlife
If it's the wildlife in your garden that interests you then The Green Gardener sells a variety of items, whether it's a deterrent "safe pest control" or an enticer "ladybird houses" that you are looking for, The Green Gardener website is a great place to start. The BBC.co.uk also hosts a similar page with lots of "Seasonal hints and tips on how to give your wild neighbours a helping hand." (Quote from the BBC)The Green Gardener, BBC.co.uk or visit the BBC Garden Wildlife page
Plants
Our HelpHounders are obviously keen gardeners as there is now a helpful list of locations where they purchase plants. Wyevale Garden Centres "This garden centre has a good selection of both indoor and outdoor plants" danielleflossie, if you haven't got a store near to you, then their website is very useful and offers hire services as well as all the usual plants. Crocus, according to Jayne (who according to her profile is a gardener) is "Well worth a look through the helpful information they offer and the wonderful selection of plants." If roses are your thing, have a look at David Austin. Madeleine says they're "the Rolls-Royce of specialist rose growers and breeders!"Search HelpHound for plants or Wyevale Garden Centres. Read reviews of Crocus or David Austin
Furniture & Gifts
Crocus also sell furniture, so it's worth having a look. Madeleine picked up a bargain at B&Q "I have bought a very nice - and cheap - wooden garden table and garden benches from them in the past .... they do a good range and there are lots of special offers." If you are looking for a present for a gardener, then go to The Gluttonous Gardener, Groover has "been on the receiving end of presents and how nice they are to get! Presentation is everything and they are packaged very nicely using Hessian, wooden crates and raffia straw."Crocus, B&Q or The Gluttonous Gardener
Something special... Inside Outdoors
Always dreamed of using that space in the corner of your garden? Maybe you fancy having a space to relax/ read/ paint or work out in? Well with lots of top spec companies out there it's becoming easier and easier. Our HelpHounders have reviewed a few of these companies with their specialities ranging from children's treehouses - to solid oak structures. Sanctuary Garden Offices "build bespoke units, each superbly constructed, within a consultancy geared business that aims to provide tailored offices, built to high specification to suit the needs of the user." Silver. If you are looking for oak, Prime Oak Buildings Ltd make "Good quality oak buildings for garages, outhouses, extensions etc. If you are looking for an oak building - definitely worth a look." Minno. The Children's Cottage Company make "Beautiful products! They are individually made to order, and there are a myriad of choices that can be made to make if your own - colours, roof finishes, windows, decoration etc! All adds to the fun!" molly
So whether it's for your children, guests or for yourselves, there are lots of companies out there to satisfy your desires.
Read reviews of Sanctuary Garden Offices, Prime Oak Buildings Ltd or The Children's Cottage Company
So whether it's for your children, guests or for yourselves, there are lots of companies out there to satisfy your desires.
Read reviews of Sanctuary Garden Offices, Prime Oak Buildings Ltd or The Children's Cottage Company
